KFN Scholarship Fund

Student Fund Established by the Kingston Field Naturalists for Queen’s University Biological Station

The Kingston Field Naturalists’ Fund for Queen’s University Biological Station (QUBS) was established in spring 2007 in memory of Dr. Robert Stewart, former Head of Microbiology at Queen’s University, former KFN President and Honorary President, and former President of the Federation of Ontario Naturalists. The award is intended to benefit and encourage undergraduate students whose studies at QUBS focus on conservation biology or natural history. Recognizing the valuable and unique educational opportunity QUBS provides at a critical stage of a student’s development, the KFN established the Fund in keeping with its mandate to stimulate public interest in nature and to acquire and provide knowledge of natural history. The Fund creates opportunities for students with good academic standing to gain essential and inspirational first-hand field experience.

Queen’s University Biological Station is a major research and teaching facility providing accommodation, laboratory space and equipment in a setting of several thousand acres of diverse habitat types. It is located near Lake Opinicon on the Rideau Canal just north of Kingston. Students from Queen’s and other universities enjoy an environment for learning like no other. Exposed to a wide range of research, courses, lectures and seminars, students also gain an environmental education not lacking in hands-on contact with nature. For more information on QUBS visit http://www.queensu.ca/qubs/index.html.

The Fund, approved by the University senate in May 2007, was established with an initial donation by the KFN and its members of $15,000. The size of the endowment in 2008 is $33,547, which will allow an annual award of over $1,000 in perpetuity. The first award was given for the 2008 field season.

How to support the fund

To donate directly to the KFN, please mail a cheque, payable to Kingston Field Naturalists and earmarked for “Scholarship Fund” to Kingston Field Naturalists, PO Box 831, Kingston ON K7L 4X6. Charitable receipts will be issued for donations over $10.